Lecturer to revitalise Indonesian language programs
Promoting the teaching of Indonesian language is clearly in Australia’s national interest, according to University of the Sunshine Coast lecturer Dr Phillip Mahnken.
Dr Mahnken said the current trend away from Indonesian language programs in many universities overlooked the benefits that could be gained from developing better communication with our nearest Asian neighbour.
He cited the current trade and business opportunities in Indonesia and the reduction of a potential threat from a politically unstable country as some of these benefits.
Dr Mahnken said the downturn in Indonesian programs in Australia had prompted the development of a joint language project involving USC, Charles Darwin University, the University of New England and University of Tasmania.
This consortium recently gained a $22,000 DASSH (Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities) grant to devise online and in-country courses in Indonesian which will see Australian students travelling to Indonesia to better develop their language skills.
Dr Mahnken, who specialises in Computer Assisted Language Learning, will lead a team that includes UTAS literature specialist Pam Allen and Indonesian performing arts and women’s issues expert Professor Barbara Hatley, UNE Indonesian political analyst Dr Steve Miller and CDU sociologist Dr Richard Curtis.
The USC lecturer said the language teaching staff of the University of Mataram in Lombok, Indonesia, also would make a crucial contribution to the in-country curriculum, while a national reference group from universities across Australia would offer critical review and input.
"This project will update and revitalise Indonesian language teaching and learning,’’ he said.
"This collaboration between four regional universities, with input from our friends all over Australia and overseas, will combine our various strengths, give students much wider experiences and promote Indonesian learning."
Dr Mahnken said improvements in technology would make the project much more exciting for teaching staff at the four universities.
"The virtual campus need no longer be just text-based. We can share images, web pages, powerpoints and be talking and listening to each other and native speakers in real time about opinions, experiences and complex ideas. That’s perfect for language learning."
Dr Mahnken said most language programs in Australia were under pressure, but Indonesian was facing the toughest battle of all.
"Understandably Australian attitudes are influenced when the media highlights economic crash, tsunami, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, widespread corruption and poverty, bird flu, two Islamist-inspired bombings in Bali that claimed nearly 100 Australian lives, repression in Aceh and West Papua and young Australian drug dealers in Indonesian jails,’’ he said.
"Teachers of Indonesian maintain that when our nearest Asian neighbour is in such trouble, the smart policy for Australian security is to know all we can about the place and the people.
"The welfare of our children depends on the welfare of those who may be a potential future threat. Helping Indonesia towards democracy, good governance, prosperity and health is in our own best interests."
Dr Mahnken said some universities had closed or reduced their Indonesian language programs and staff, and there had also been a sharp drop in the number of Australian tourists to Indonesia due to the Commonwealth government’s permanent travel warning about the country.
However, Dr Mahnken said many Australian companies continued to do business in Indonesia and the billion dollars promised to the country after the Aceh tsunami was now funding many projects that could involve Australians.